The big whites—who some refer to as “White Guards” to mark the end of the CCP’s rule, with white in Chinese culture being associated with death, in contrast to the “Red Guards” who secured the CCP’s early rule through political campaigns during the Cultural Revolution—are mostly volunteers but also officers following the central government’s orders to take charge of local pandemic prevention and control. They have been using coercive measures, such as removing people from their homes to take them to quarantine field hospitals (even those who are not yet infected), and breaking into people’s homes to conduct viral disinfection.
The Chinese people have had to live with this intrusive big white army, tasked with the honorable role of enforcing the nation’s zero-COVID policy including by poking everyone’s noses, whether invited or not.
But recently, it has become more common to spot video footage online of fights breaking out with the big whites, although they are also quickly removed by internet censors.
People’s patience for the central government’s COVID-19 policies is showing signs of breaking, and more and more prominent persons have been seen advocating for a shift away from the stifling measures, with many immediately censored.
On May 8, Prof. Tong Zhiwei, an expert on the Chinese Constitution at Shanghai’s East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPSL), published an article criticizing the extreme pandemic prevention measures adopted by the regime for being unconstitutional. The post, which he claimed had been written in consultation with more than 20 academics from Shanghai, Wuhan, and Beijing, was quickly blocked from the internet.
The article condemned two particular measures widely adopted by authorities: forced quarantine in field hospitals for those who are not confirmed COVID carriers at the convenience of the authorities, and the confiscation of house keys and forced entries into people’s homes for viral disinfection in the name of pandemic prevention and control.
After the post was removed, online videos and comments continued to reveal more inhumane conduct by local big whites. One comment noted that the White Guards’ actions were like police breaking into people’s homes, except without a warrant or any official documents.
“You are subject to punishment if you refuse to follow the order of the government, and the punishment will affect three generations in your family,” the police said. A young man was heard responding, “Excuse me, this is our last generation, thank you!”
Chinese netizens echoed the young man’s response.
